Have you ever thought that what you see is sometimes different from what you are really seeing?
The famous Arcimboldo's "Vegetables In A Bowl Or The Gardener" painting is a clear example ....
The US Department of Agriculture’s oversight of country of origin labeling (COOL) is riddled with inconsistencies between state officials conducting the audits, problems with how retailers are selected for review and delays in communicating results of the audits.Those are just a few of the shortfalls detailed in a report from the USDA’s Office of Inspector General concerning the agency’s role in enforcing country of origin labeling laws.Read more at The Packer
The US and other developed markets have moved into "stagflationary" mode over the past six months, and the lack of growth has created a pricing dilemma for CPG companies, Hugh Johnston, PepsiCo's CFO, told attendees at a Barclays Capital investor conference."While our brands are solid and our company is highly productive, this stagflation has made pricing a tricky balancing act," Johnston said. "Price elasticities have become steeper at the same time that [price increases] are required to cover higher input costs, and this is squeezing performance across food and beverage."Given this reality, PepsiCo is focusing on pricing strategies, as well as supporting its brands with marketing to clearly define and communicate their distinct positioning to consumers and driving innovation, Johnston said.PepsiCo continues to adjust its pricing architecture to "meet the needs of the widening gap between value, middle and premium consumers" and "be responsive to generally higher price sensitivity across all consumers," he said.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today said that two new pilot projects will enhance the agency’s and industry’s ability to trace products responsible for foodborne illness outbreaks.The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a nonprofit scientific society consisting of professionals engaged in food science, food technology, and related professions, will carry out the pilots at the direction of FDA, under an existing FDA contract.The Food Safety Modernization Act requires the FDA to establish at least two pilot projects: one involving produce and one involving processed foods. Signed into law in January, the act also directs the FDA to establish recordkeeping requirements for high-risk foods to help in tracing products.“We can prevent illnesses and reduce the economic impact to the food industry if we can more quickly determine what foods may be causing an outbreak and what foods can be eliminated from consideration,” said Michael R. Taylor, FDA deputy commissioner for foods. “We recognize the importance of engaging stakeholders throughout the process and will consider what is practical for facilities of varying sizes and capabilities.”The pilots will evaluate methods and technologies for rapid and effective tracing of foods, including types of data that are useful for tracing, ways to connect the various points in the supply chain, and how quickly the data are made available to the FDA.Key stakeholder groups, including industry, government, and consumers, will have input into the pilots, and efforts will be made to include those representing the food supply chain – from farms to restaurants and grocery stores.After the pilots are completed and additional data is gathered, the FDA will initiate rulemaking on recordkeeping requirements for high-risk foods to facilitate tracing. The FDA must define high-risk foods, considering such factors as the known risks of a food based on foodborne illness data, the likelihood that a particular food has a high potential risk for contamination, and the likely severity of an illness attributed to a particular food. The FDA will hold three public meetings during the comment period on the proposed rule.
Discount retailer Aldi has announced a new partnership with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) which sees the company aligning with USDA nutrition messages and the MyPlate icon to encourage US consumers to fill half their plate with fruits and vegetables.“This initiative coincides with the Aldi mission to provide the highest quality products at the lowest possible prices to our customers,” said Chuck Youngstrom, co-president of Aldi.“We want to play our part to help Americans fill half their plate with fruits and vegetables.”Aldi operates more than 1,100 stores in 31 states across the US.
AB 183, the bill that if it becomes law would ban sales of alcoholic beverages at self-service checkout stands in grocery and other types of retail stores in California, has failed to gain the needed 21-vote majority required to pass in the California State Senate.Following a 17-to-16 vote in favor of passage of AB 183, Senator Christine Kehoe made a motion to reconsider, which was approved by all 40 members of the Senate.
"Not every country has yet implemented EDLP; some are yet to come, but we have started and most of our markets have already been there or are moving to everyday low price," said Doug McMillon, president and chief executive officer, Walmart International, in a presentation at the Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference.He cited Brazil as an example of a market in which results have been improved through the implementation of EDLP. He also said he expects a conversion to EDLP in China will boost sales there."China presents an enormous opportunity for us in the future," McMillon said. "We're working with that team to develop our timing and our approach to that based on learning that we've gotten from Japan and Brazil and other markets."Source: SupermarketNews
The United Fresh Produce Association’s latest FreshFacts on Retail report showed a slight increase in fruit and vegetable prices in the second quarter of 2011, compared with the previous year and a 1% decrease in total volume sales during the quarter.Organic fruit posted a 12.5% increase in weekly sales.
According to FreshandEasyBuzz, the California State Senate is set to vote on AB 183, which if passed in the legislative body and signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown will ban the sales of alcoholic beverages at self-service checkouts in retail stores in the Golden State, before the week is out.AB 183 prohibits holders of off-sale beer, wine and liquor licenses from selling alcoholic beverages using a customer-operated checkout stand located on the licensee's physical premises.Friday, September 9 is the last day of the current legislative session, and the last day both houses of the California State Legislature can vote on and pass bills in the session before it recesses until January 4, 2012.A simple majority, 21 votes, is needed for AB 183 to pass in the California State Senate.If AB 183 passes in the California State Senate this week, the opponents of the legislation, which include Tesco's Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, the California Grocers Association and others will then need to stage a last-ditch effort to persuade the Governor to veto it by the October 9, 2011 deadline.
US grocer Kroger has named Joe Fey President of the company’s 68-unit Quality Food Centers (QFC) chain.He succeeds Donna Giordano who has moved on to become President of Kroger’s Ralphs Division.
Fitch Ratings has published a new report on the US supermarkets, indicating that the industry is beginning to stabilize after two difficult years due to a more rational pricing environment together with higher food inflation.The report concludes, however, that the long-term challenges facing the industry - which include ongoing increases in healthcare costs, built-in increases in union labor rates, and the encroachment of new competitors and discount formats - will make it difficult for traditional supermarkets, with the exception of Kroger, to produce a sustained turnaround that enables them to restore margins to their pre-2009 levels.Anticipated price inflation - and a determination to pass higher costs along - should lead to faster sales growth and better expense leverage over the next 12 to 24 months, slowing the cycle of declining margins resulting from reduced customer counts and price investment during the previous two years.The report includes credit analysis reports on each of the Big 3 supermarkets: Kroger Co., Safeway Inc. and SUPERVALU Inc., that address key rating drivers, liquidity, debt and organizational structures, and covenant summaries. Kroger Co., Cincinnati, which has the best same-store sales growth of the “Big 3” U.S. supermarket retailers, should continue to outpace rivals Safeway and Supervalu, Fitch said.Safeway, Pleasanton, Calif., has the potential to regain some of the margin lost through price investments if it can accelerate sales, the report said. Minneapolis-based Supervalu will continue to see margin pressure while sales are negative, Fitch added, although cost reductions are softening the blow.The report, 'US Supermarkets on the Mend,' is available at www.fitchratings.com
The US Department of Agriculture’s oversight of country of origin labeling (COOL) is riddled with inconsistencies between state officials conducting the audits, problems with how retailers are selected for review and delays in communicating results of the audits.
The US and other developed markets have moved into "stagflationary" mode over the past six months, and the lack of growth has created a pricing dilemma for CPG companies, Hugh Johnston, PepsiCo's CFO, told attendees at a Barclays Capital investor conference.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today said that two new pilot projects will enhance the agency’s and industry’s ability to trace products responsible for foodborne illness outbreaks.
Discount retailer Aldi has announced a new partnership with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) which sees the company aligning with USDA nutrition messages and the MyPlate icon to encourage US consumers to fill half their plate with fruits and vegetables.
AB 183, the bill that if it becomes law would ban sales of alcoholic beverages at self-service checkout stands in grocery and other types of retail stores in California, has failed to gain the needed 21-vote majority required to pass in the California State Senate.
"Not every country has yet implemented EDLP; some are yet to come, but we have started and most of our markets have already been there or are moving to everyday low price," said Doug McMillon, president and chief executive officer, Walmart International, in a presentation at the Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference.
The United Fresh Produce Association’s latest FreshFacts on Retail report showed a slight increase in fruit and vegetable prices in the second quarter of 2011, compared with the previous year and a 1% decrease in total volume sales during the quarter.
According to FreshandEasyBuzz, the California State Senate is set to vote on AB 183, which if passed in the legislative body and signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown will ban the sales of alcoholic beverages at self-service checkouts in retail stores in the Golden State, before the week is out.
Fitch Ratings has published a new report on the US supermarkets, indicating that the industry is beginning to stabilize after two difficult years due to a more rational pricing environment together with higher food inflation.